Who can stop South Africa?

[marc71178]

If you follow SA domestic cricket you'd realise they actually have excellent depth

Potential depth maybe.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Potential depth maybe.

Exactly, the depth can't be that great if they were picking in Australia a couple of specialist bats averaging mid 30's in Rudolph and Duminy. Not like they can argue that they are only just starting out and will improve.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Not sure if this post is serious.

3-4 consistent batsmen is relatively healthy IMO.

That said, Southee and Boult will destroy them in January.

3-4 top batsmen alone means you're still going to suffer some 'freak' performances every series or so. Like getting rolled by Sri Lanka. Australia in their peak had 7 at least decent batsmen with the odd top/great batsman - so instead of a bad match it was a below par innings once in a while so average teams would barely get a sniff.

South Africa's innings scores are much more volatile, their series are almost all 2/3 matches. So chances are they'll randomly lose a series sooner rather than later, particularly with injuries/retirements. No country can replace a great, but with South Africa the difference between their best players and the reserves is particularly big.

 

[Flem274*]

Yeah but you can hardly say England cover themselves in glorious batting depth either. Samit Patel anyone?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Yeah but you can hardly say England cover themselves in glorious batting depth either. Samit Patel anyone?

He won't play again, was only on that tour as he can bowl a bit of spin. Will not go to NZ. If we had taken Bopara and played him you would have a point but thankfully he is way down the list now. Just need to **** Morgan off now.

 

[sonnench]

Exactly, the depth can't be that great if they were picking in Australia a couple of specialist bats averaging mid 30's in Rudolph and Duminy. Not like they can argue that they are only just starting out and will improve.

Righto, it's not like we saw any of our replacement batsmen come in and do anything useful.....

 

[Flem274*]

And who comes through instead then?

We haven't seen enough of Taylor, Elgar, Rossouw, Stokes etc at the top level to say who has the best depth yet.

 

[Scaly piscine]

England still found serviceable replacements at short notice - Compton, Bairstow, Root etc.

You can't judge their depth by picking out the duffers. Every team has those. South Africa currently have Rudolph and Elgar in their Test squad for New Zealand.

 

[Flem274*]

Elgar has played one test on the one pitch in the world he was always ****ed on and Rudolph is easily better than some of the batsmen England have wheeled out. Finally dropping Bopara, Morgan and Patel doesn't absolve England of the fact they played them very recently and those guys are still most definitely on the fringes.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Elgar has played one test on the one pitch in the world he was always ****ed on and Rudolph is easily better than some of the batsmen England have wheeled out. Finally dropping Bopara, Morgan and Patel doesn't absolve England of the fact they played them and those guys are still most definitely on the fringes.

Rudolph is 31 and has played near 50 Tests and averages 35.

They know he's ****e but he's still playing. Nobody knows why England picked that useless sack of ****e Bopara, and persevered with Morgan - but they young guys who they thought would come good. Rudolph isn't, he's there to make up the numbers.

 

[Burgey]

Exactly, the depth can't be that great if they were picking in Australia a couple of specialist bats averaging mid 30's in Rudolph and Duminy. Not like they can argue that they are only just starting out and will improve.

You're incredible. Talk like England's batting depth is like Australia's in the 90s. Ridiculous premise behind your condescension of SA's depth.

 

[smash84]

England still found serviceable replacements at short notice - Compton, Bairstow, Root etc.

.

and that was despite the fact that cricinfo made sure that some of the best English players were kept out of the side

 

[flibbertyjibber]

You're incredible. Talk like England's batting depth is like Australia's in the 90s. Ridiculous premise behind your condescension of SA's depth.

I'm not saying ours is but they are making out like they have a team like the great Aussie one, just saying it isn't makes me out as the bad guy. Stick to bumming Lyon anyway, better than Swann GAGF

 

[Flem274*]

Rudolph isn't, he's there to make up the numbers.

So was Bopara.

But you're right of course - SA don't even have the excuse of a media conspiracy for Rudolph's inclusion.

 

[benchmark00]

Didn't England play Taylor for a few matches? Looked a park cricketer. Kid using his Dad's kit.

Saffers will be fine.

 

[Flem274*]

and that was despite the fact that cricinfo made sure that some of the best English players were kept out of the side

son of **** i wanted that joke

 

[Scaly piscine]

So was Bopara.

But you're right of course - SA don't even have the excuse of a media conspiracy for Rudolph's inclusion.

Everyone except the selectors knew Bopara was ****e, everyone including the selectors know Rudolph is ****e. That's the difference.

 

[smash84]

son of **** i wanted that joke

at least you could have put a oaf

 

[Burgey]

I'm not saying ours is but they are making out like they have a team like the great Aussie one, just saying it isn't makes me out as the bad guy. Stick to bumming Lyon anyway, better than Swann GAGF

Bull****. All this hubris because you won in India. South Africa destroyed England at home six months ago. Get some perspective ffs.

 

[Flem274*]

Everyone except the selectors knew Bopara was ****e, everyone including the selectors know Rudolph is ****e. That's the difference.

Been attending SA selection meetings have you?